Chapter 8: Pirates Swoop
DISCLAIMER: Ok, I know you must have completely forgotten about this story...believe me, I did. ( o well) So, ya...none of the characters are mine, exept the obvious ones... blah blah blah....Oh yeah, HAPPY FINAL EXAM WRITING!!!
RATING: **PG-13**Might get higher in future chpters ( sexual type content ect.)
Haltingly, Ellie told him the details of her dream, carefully neglecting to mention that he'd been a part of it. It was embarrassing enough admitting to her friend that she'd been so spooked by a nightmare. She didn't feel any particular need exacerbate the situation by telling him she'd been flying in his arms. Ellie already felt like a silly child...and she told him so.
Thom stared at her in disbelief. " Ellie, you are a lot of things...silly isn't one of them."
She smiled, glad that he didn't think her a coward.
"Now, what say we go swimming?"
Ellie shot him a dirty look, and he chuckled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had dipped to the horizon by the time they'd reached Pirates Swoop. It was an older structure surrounded by a barricade that was built to repel sea attacks. Moss covered the ancient stone turrets and a stone portcullis towered above them. Ellie smiled, this was Thom's home.
In the entrance hall, they were greeted by a mad flurry of servants. After handing her cloak to and older maid, Ellie turned to find that Thom. He stood at the base of the staircase, embracing a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, who Ellie recognized instantly as George, Thom's father.
"Lad," he muttered " I thought ye'd left us for good!"
Thom laughed " I would...but I like the food here too much."
Ellie gaped, this was the man that many referred to as 'The Great Rogue' The man's gaze shifted to Ellie.
"A guest?" He asked, hazel eyes glittering curiously.
Thom blushed "Um...this is....Ellie"
"That was eloquent!" she teased.
"Well Ellie," Said George, extending a hand for her to shake " Welcome t'-." He stopped short when he saw her face. Smiling wickedly, he withdrew his hand, sinking into the deep bow made by a noble to a monarch. "Welcome...your majesty..."
"Like father, like son..." She muttered dryly.
"Well, welcome, Lass!" George chuckled, "To think, The Rogue, in our humble house!"
"Mother!" Thom cried happily, running to embrace the short red-haired woman descending the
stairs.
"Th' Lioness..." Ellie breathed in awe.
Alanna's eyes glanced, as George's had, from Thom to Ellie. "Who this?" she inquired of her flushed son.
"I'm a friend," Ellie said, extending a hand.
The Lioness shook the offered hand. "And do you have a name, or shall I simply call you 'friend'?"
"Her name's Ellie" Thom added impishly.
The woman smiled "It's an pleasure to meet you Ellie"
"Maybe you shouldn't assume that 'till you know me better" Ellie advised seriously. The lioness's face split into a grin.
"Then I can at least welcome you to my home." She said, dipping into a slightly clumsy curtsy. Somewhere behind her, George made an odd sound. Alanna shot her husband a dark look.
"For one who's s'posed to be th' greatest Rogue of all, he isn't that wise is he?" Ellie muttered playfully.
The man looked genuinely surprised "What gave me th' honor of that title?" He asked bluntly.
"It's said" Ellie whispered, "That you met th' King!" Alanna gave an un-ladylike snort.
His eyes lit up "You could say that..."
Ellie smiled, "I wasn't sure if it were just another of Marek 'n Fingers drunken tales."
She said honestly.
Alanna laughed, "I'm sure you've heard many of those..."
Dinner was an interesting affair at Pirates Swoop. Ellie had expected, this being the home of Nobles, they would observe some level of dinning etiquette....however, this proved not to be the case. Pirates Swoop was like no other place she'd ever been. Inside it's solid walls, Ellie spent many happy days and peaceful nights. Winter had truly arrived now, blanketing everything in soft white snow. Word was sent from Kaleb on her third day, that all was well in the city. Ellie realized, looking date on the parchment, that midwinter's feast was only days away. Grabbing her cloak and purse, Ellie headed for town.
DISCLAIMER: Ok, I know you must have completely forgotten about this story...believe me, I did. ( o well) So, ya...none of the characters are mine, exept the obvious ones... blah blah blah....Oh yeah, HAPPY FINAL EXAM WRITING!!!
RATING: **PG-13**Might get higher in future chpters ( sexual type content ect.)
Haltingly, Ellie told him the details of her dream, carefully neglecting to mention that he'd been a part of it. It was embarrassing enough admitting to her friend that she'd been so spooked by a nightmare. She didn't feel any particular need exacerbate the situation by telling him she'd been flying in his arms. Ellie already felt like a silly child...and she told him so.
Thom stared at her in disbelief. " Ellie, you are a lot of things...silly isn't one of them."
She smiled, glad that he didn't think her a coward.
"Now, what say we go swimming?"
Ellie shot him a dirty look, and he chuckled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun had dipped to the horizon by the time they'd reached Pirates Swoop. It was an older structure surrounded by a barricade that was built to repel sea attacks. Moss covered the ancient stone turrets and a stone portcullis towered above them. Ellie smiled, this was Thom's home.
In the entrance hall, they were greeted by a mad flurry of servants. After handing her cloak to and older maid, Ellie turned to find that Thom. He stood at the base of the staircase, embracing a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, who Ellie recognized instantly as George, Thom's father.
"Lad," he muttered " I thought ye'd left us for good!"
Thom laughed " I would...but I like the food here too much."
Ellie gaped, this was the man that many referred to as 'The Great Rogue' The man's gaze shifted to Ellie.
"A guest?" He asked, hazel eyes glittering curiously.
Thom blushed "Um...this is....Ellie"
"That was eloquent!" she teased.
"Well Ellie," Said George, extending a hand for her to shake " Welcome t'-." He stopped short when he saw her face. Smiling wickedly, he withdrew his hand, sinking into the deep bow made by a noble to a monarch. "Welcome...your majesty..."
"Like father, like son..." She muttered dryly.
"Well, welcome, Lass!" George chuckled, "To think, The Rogue, in our humble house!"
"Mother!" Thom cried happily, running to embrace the short red-haired woman descending the
stairs.
"Th' Lioness..." Ellie breathed in awe.
Alanna's eyes glanced, as George's had, from Thom to Ellie. "Who this?" she inquired of her flushed son.
"I'm a friend," Ellie said, extending a hand.
The Lioness shook the offered hand. "And do you have a name, or shall I simply call you 'friend'?"
"Her name's Ellie" Thom added impishly.
The woman smiled "It's an pleasure to meet you Ellie"
"Maybe you shouldn't assume that 'till you know me better" Ellie advised seriously. The lioness's face split into a grin.
"Then I can at least welcome you to my home." She said, dipping into a slightly clumsy curtsy. Somewhere behind her, George made an odd sound. Alanna shot her husband a dark look.
"For one who's s'posed to be th' greatest Rogue of all, he isn't that wise is he?" Ellie muttered playfully.
The man looked genuinely surprised "What gave me th' honor of that title?" He asked bluntly.
"It's said" Ellie whispered, "That you met th' King!" Alanna gave an un-ladylike snort.
His eyes lit up "You could say that..."
Ellie smiled, "I wasn't sure if it were just another of Marek 'n Fingers drunken tales."
She said honestly.
Alanna laughed, "I'm sure you've heard many of those..."
Dinner was an interesting affair at Pirates Swoop. Ellie had expected, this being the home of Nobles, they would observe some level of dinning etiquette....however, this proved not to be the case. Pirates Swoop was like no other place she'd ever been. Inside it's solid walls, Ellie spent many happy days and peaceful nights. Winter had truly arrived now, blanketing everything in soft white snow. Word was sent from Kaleb on her third day, that all was well in the city. Ellie realized, looking date on the parchment, that midwinter's feast was only days away. Grabbing her cloak and purse, Ellie headed for town.